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James Maridadi

Prosper Dembedza Court Reporter
MDC-T Member of Parliament for Mabvuku-Tafara constituency James Maridadi appeared in court on Friday on charges of unauthorised borrowing or use of property after allegedly grabbing, while in bad temper, a “parking ticket book” worth $2,50 a from a National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) salesman.

Maridadi reportedly refused to pay $1 in parking fees at the Harare Station parcels office on October 9, grabbed the ticket book from the salesman and drove off in his red Ford Ranger truck. Maridadi (48) was charged with unauthorised borrowing or use of property when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Takunda Mtetwa.

He was granted $100 bail and will be back in court on November 23.

Allegations are that on October 9 Mr Zivanai Muzokomba (38), who is employed by (NRZ) as a ticket salesman, was manning the NRZ parcels parking zone and was receipting parking fees.

It is alleged that Maridadi parked his vehicle at the NRZ-controlled car park and Mr Muzokomba waited for Maridadi’s return when he asked the legislator to pay the parking fees, but Maridadi became furious and demanded to see the ticket book which the saleman was using.

Mr Muzokomba, the court heard, showed Maridadi the ticket book but the legislator grabbed the book and drove away along Kenneth Kaunda Avenue.

It is the State’s case that Muzokomba managed to note down Maridadi’s vehicle registration number and reported the case at Harare Central Police Station.

A Central Vehicle Registry check revealed that the legislator owned the vehicle.

This led to Maridadi’s arrest leading to the recovery of the ticket book.